Nothing lasts forever, and for football players, changing clubs is often part of the journey. Sometimes the decision is not easy, but certain situations make it the only option. Jack Grealish now seems to be facing such a moment, one that could see him leave Manchester City, the club he recently spoke so warmly about.
In July, while speaking at Oasis in Heaton Park, the England star made his feelings clear. “I love City more than anything! And do you know what I love more than anything? City fans! They’re the best fans in the world!”
Despite this strong affection, Grealish may soon have to give his loyalty to another team.
His absence from Pep Guardiola’s squad to face Palermo this weekend is a strong sign of change. This is not the first time he has been left out. When his teammates travelled to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup, Grealish stayed behind at home. After the tournament, he rejoined training with the rest of the squad, but his situation did not improve. Now, his future likely lies elsewhere, either on loan or in a permanent move.
Stefan Ortega is another Manchester City player in a similar position. The German goalkeeper has struggled to replace Ederson Moraes as the club’s first choice despite performing well whenever given the chance. One of his standout moments came near the end of the 2023/24 season, when his vital one-on-one save against Son Heung-min helped secure another league title for City.
Yet, Ortega’s career at the Etihad now looks uncertain. On Friday, he was left out of the travelling squad once again. The arrival of James Trafford has only made the competition tougher, and at 30 years old, Ortega may need to look elsewhere for regular football.
James McAtee is also among those who did not travel with the squad to Italy. For the England international, the situation appears straightforward — his Manchester City career is not viable because has no place in Guardiola’s plans. A move away from Manchester City now seems almost certain for him as well.
In football, loyalty often meets the reality of team selection and career progress. For Grealish, Ortega, and McAtee, that reality might mean saying goodbye to Manchester City sooner than they ever expected.